Album Review: "Garden Window" from Atlanta band 'O'Brother' + a video

Album Review: “Garden Window” from Atlanta band ‘O’Brother’ + a video

February 21, 2012 0 Comments

O‘brother is no doubt set out to be on top. Garden Window is a dark journey through the minds and instruments of a clearly, definitively talented 5 piece out of Atlanta. Fresh off a tour with Manchester Orchestra and celebrating the release of “Garden Window”, I think its safe to say that O’brother will soon take your city by storm.

To be honest I hadn’t paid much attention to O’Brother until they went on tour with Manchester Orchestra (I was at their Atlanta show but missed O’brother’s opening slot); looking them up then only to read a review by a fan that said they were “scary” and that she would never be listening to them again, ha! Well she was wrong. Not only are they not scary but quite the opposite…inspiring, stirring, uplifting even. Though you might not hear it at first, and you probably have to have been through a certain amount of pain or drama in your life, but its there. Garden Window is art. An 11 track masterpiece even. Can you tell I’m a fan yet? The album struck a chord with me because of its wariness, its gloominess and its insight. Those things can be uplifting if presented in the right light, mixed with the right lyrics.

The album begins with “Malum,” what I consider an introduction into the album to come…its 3 minutes of heavy distortion, mysterious sounds and heavy, slow beating drums while the singer whispers and then screams; screams and then whispers. It opens you up and takes you into a different space. Right when you think you might close your eyes and float away the band takes you into track two, “Lo”, which is a more pop inspired tune that some might dance to. They broke you down and then threw you off guard with a sped up, emotive rebellion only to bring you back in with track 3, “Sputnik.” “Sputnik” is heavy and melodic; rich in vocals and cool jazzy spaced out guitar riffs…very Deftones.

“Poison” is track 4 and really picks up in the space that “Malum” left you in. An epic almost 8 minute track that bends and curves through a range of sentiment…eery drum beats and guitar riffs justifying a darker element to life. A beautifully arranged passage into introspection and regret, integrity and honesty. Its a delicate look inside a head that is drowning in numbness. “Lay Down” is next and is the tool that slides you through the Garden Window and out to the other side. You might think its the title track as it sings of the garden window. Its desperate feeling but bold at the same time; a dreamy, twirly guitar filled proficiency. I hear epic is an overused word throughout music descriptions but I can think of nothing less for “Lay Down” (and track 4 “Poison” for that matter). How about ‘grand’, or monumental…ambitious…and it only keeps going from there. Track 6 keeps the legend burning, even picking up the on the pure impressive scale of significance that the last two tracks laid out. Titled “Easy Talk (Open your Mouth),” its a rebellious and taunting song with constant and looming spaced out guitars and harmonics daring the subject to make that move. “Why don’t you open your mouth and let it out now.” If you opened your mouth, would you get a fist to the face or feel a sense of freedom? With just a few words and alluring arrangement it lays out a significant philosophical dilemma…or maybe just dares you to speak out.

The next 2 tracks are “Machines Part I” and “Machines Part II.” An angry onset after the careful contemplation of the previous path partaken. The 2 parts end on a heavy, crucial instrumental breakdown that is unforgiving with its power. And then on to “Bear”; an almost new wave presence that converges with the scope of emotional thought brought forth in tracks 4, 5 and 6. “I could patiently seek another chance, or I could cut you deep with a simple glance, I loathe your hesitance.” Its a dark wave song with a morbid undertone. The lyrics are nothing short of poetic and easily stand alone – a sign of a truly great lyric writer if delivery matches in brilliance …and with “Garden Window” it certainly does.

Don’t get tired yet. The 14 minute adventure titled “Cleanse Me” is now. Its the final stepping stone to the end of what might have well been a yellow brick road in limbo. Its the top of a psychedelic trail through the mountainous human mind. Its the final frontier into lyrical poetry that reaches into the depths of meaning. It continues the narrative of growth and acceptance that is set forth throughout the album. Its melodic and unruly all at the same time. Its filled with screams and filled with want. It screams of selfishness but only in the sense of overcoming repression or pain, which is an extraordinary feat to say the least. Its dreamy and celestial with the last 4-5 minutes being soft instrumentals and roaring reoccurrence, taking you up and down in intervals of significance and grandiosity. Its intense.

The final track is “Last Breath.” It completes the acceptance after an insurgence in rebellion. Its spiritual and overtaking. It brings to an end what has been a spellbinding trip from edge to edge. The edges being whatever you make them in your head, “Garden Window” being a device to bring the edges to a center point. Its a final understanding before you let it all free.

“I am the fortunate one, left with the blood in my skin.
You are the only thing I hope is real in a dark world.
I am the fortunate one, left with the blood in my limbs.
You are the only thing I hope is real in a dark world”

The instrumentals are brilliant and the lyrics are elegant in their intellect. I absolutely cannot wait to see O’brother when they come round again. “Garden Window” is an amazing studio album and I know it will be even better heard live. They are going on tour to a town near you…see the show dates below.

I think fans of the Deftones, Brand New, Tool, Radiohead, Manchester Orchestra and Incubus will find something to like about “Garden Window” and O’brother.

02/16/12 Washington, DC @ DC9 w / Junius, Black Clouds
02/17/12 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall w / Junius, Ribs
02/18/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory w / Junius / Vaura
02/19/12 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar w / Junius, Val De Val
02/21/12 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE w / Junius, Sainthood Reps, Amplifiers
02/22/12 Columbus, OH @ Basement w / Junius, Sainthood Reps, The End of the Ocean
02/23/12 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme w / Junius, The Soil and The Sun
02/24/12 Chicago,IL @ Beat Kitchen w / Junius, Cut Teeth
02/25/12 St Louis, MO @ Firebird w / Junius, Time & Time, Ashes and Iron
02/26/12 Lawrence,KS @ Jackpot Music Hall w / Junius
02/28/12 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w / Junius, Lucida Tela
02/29/12 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court w / Junius, Loom, Travelers Cold
03/02/12 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill w / Junius, Happy Body Slow Brain
03/03/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Satellite (formerly Spaceland) w / Junius / Beware of Safety
03/04/12 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar w / Junius / Children of Nova
03/06/12 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress w / Junius, Sleep Driver
03/07/12 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Underground w / Junius / Cassiopeia / Marriage of the Decade
03/09/12 Austin, TX @ Beauty Bar w / Junius, Brother Ghost, My Education
03/10/12 Dallas, TX @ Bryan St. Tavern w / Junius, My Education
03/11/12 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live w / Junius